By Megan Cradock, Caroline Dowse, Zalak Shah and Ana Cecilia Matute
There's a certain kind of magic a reader feels when they discover a new author or enjoy the work of an old favourite, someone whose words feel familiar to them not necessarily because they've read them before but because it feels like they were always supposed to. Ursula K. Le Guin has long been considered one of those authors capable of inspiring people through their writing, with many still enamoured by her exploration of science-fiction and her fantasy Tales from Earthsea. In celebration of what would have been her birthday this October, we share some favourite recommendations below to start reading her works.
A Wizard of Earthsea
Are you looking to celebrate Ursula K. Le Guin's birthday with a little magic?
Transporting readers to a magical land called Earthsea, Le Guin introduces Ged, a young boy with a knack for magic. After saving his village by using magic, he is sent to Roke, an island where wizards are trained, and is hailed as the most promising student. In a moment of hubris, he attempts a spell he is ill-prepared for, and accidently releases a shadow that wants to possess his body, claim his magic and wreak havoc on Earthsea. Injured and terrified of the shadow, Ged completes his training in the safety of Roke until he can no longer delay the inevitable: he must rid the world of the evil he brought forth.
Le Guin creates an incredible fantasy world, exploring the impact of human flaws and providing an epic and fantastical quest for both Ged and the readers to undertake.
The Lathe of Heaven
Have you ever imagined what would happen if your dreams became reality?
In a world devastated by war and environmental problems, George Orr finds out that his dreams can alter reality and, to stop this, he tries a new drug, which he quickly becomes addicted to. One morning, he wakes to yet another reality, but this time he is the only person to remember the previous one. He turns to psychiatrist William Haber, who creates a machine called the Augmentor that enhances Orr’s powers and manipulates his dreams to attain wealth and power. As Haber benefits from the chaos created by each new reality, Orr realises that he must stop him.
The story is eerily prescient, with a war in the Middle East and an impending climate catastrophe. The Lathe of Heaven is an imaginative, thought-provoking book that demonstrates why Le Guin is still one of the world’s most popular science-fiction writers.
The Beginning Place
Do you want to read an atmospheric and introspective fantasy?
Irene and Hugh have unhappy lives. Hugh lives with his manipulative mother and feels pretty disconnected with his surroundings, whereas Irene is burdened with family responsibilities that prevent her from living on her own terms. They independently stumble upon a secret gateway to the magical realm called Tembreabrezi.
This mysterious place fills them with such peace and wonder that it becomes their refuge from a disappointing reality and where time flows at a much slower pace. When they eventually meet, they realise that the Tembreabrezi is in danger from some unknown entity, and it is on them to fight it.
As they embark on a journey to save this precious land, their personal struggles and the challenges they face along the way grow their bond. The Beginning Place is a story of growing up, transformation and breaking free from bonds that don’t serve. It’s an evocative coming-of-age story told in a quiet and reflective way.
The Dispossessed
Are you looking for a book to think and question everything about our world? This is the one to dive into.
Shevek is a physicist who has always felt different from everyone in Anarres. When he arrives in Urras, he starts reflecting even more on the society he has lived in. Shevek questions the unquestionable everywhere and reflects on how his past has brought him to the present in Urras.
This is an ambiguous dystopia full of anarchism and where capitalism has fully developed. From the beginning to the end, the novel is filled with images that illustrate how Urras and Anarres ended up being divided by sociopolitical ideologies, and how those ideals have changed over time.
Ursula K. Le Guin constructs incredible, rich and imaginative scenarios that relate to our present, making this novel contemporary even thirty years after its publication.